Stadium seat



Feb. 20, 1951 J LEGQIS 2,542,820

STADIUM SEAT Filed Dec, 18, 1946 1:3 76 INVENTOR. 25x5 20/5 JOHNELEGOIS m' Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STADIUM SEAT John F. Legois, Racine, Wis.

Application December 18, 1946, Serial No. 717,051

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to what is herein designated as a bleacher or stadium seat. More particularly, it relates to an improved stadium seat which may be readily collapsed.

The term stadium seat is used to indicate a portable seat that is capable of being readily attached and detached from plant or board seats such as are found in baseball parks, circuses, football stadiums, boats and the like.

The prior art contains many examples of portable seats. A variety of devices have been suggested, but those that are sturdy enough to form a comfortable seat are subject to the objection that they are so bulky to transport that they have never been put into commercial use. One of the best of these suggested is shown in U. S. Patent to Thompson No. 2,137,312, but this seat is subject to the objection that it is not collapsible. The patentee recognizes this and suggests that his seat is especially adapted and intended to be rented at the place of use.

While some of the prior investigators recognized the desirability of a collapsible or folding portable seat so that they could be more readily transported, none of their suggested devices are completely collapsible, unless they are disassam bled.

It is therefore the principal object of my in vention to provide a sturdy, comfortable stadium seat that can be readily collapsed into a small, easily carried package.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a collapsible stadium seat which can be easily carried in a pocket when in collapsed condition.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a collopsible stadium seat which is simple and economical to manufacture, and which is readily affixed to or removed from a bleacher seat.

Further objects will become apparent from the accompanying drawing wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete seat viewed from the front.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seat with the fabric slip cover removed.

Fig 3 is a top plan view of the fabric slip cover showing the ties.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the seat in partially collapsed position viewed from the rear.

Fig. 5 shows the seat completel collapsed in carrying position with the ties fastened.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the seat back and back strap in operating position.

Fig. '7 is a broken away front elevational view of the back strap in partially collapsed position.

Fig. 8 is a broken away front elevational view of the hinge in partially collapsed position.

The seat Iii is made from spring metal," preferably of steel. Base members H and I2, preferably constructed of solid steel rod, have their forward ends bent downward and backward in a U-shape to form clamping prongs l3 and i i adapted to hold the seat securely. The rear end of the base members II and I2 are bent upward in an L-shape, with. the L-shaped ends I5 and H5 halved or split to receive upright members I? and IB which have their ends i9 and 2e halved or split as shown in Fig. 4.

The base members H and I2 are pivotally mounted to the upright members ii and I3 by means of rivets 2i and 22. If desired, other methods may be used of pivotally mounting the base members I l and I2 to the upright members ii and It, for example by bifurcating the end of the upright members I 9 and 20 to provide recesses to receive the L-shaped portions [5 and I5 of the base members II and I2.

A flexible steel back strap 24 is afiixed to the upright end of the upright members H and 18 by means of screws or bolts. The strap 24 consists of two flexible steel bars 25 and 28 which are pivotally secured at 2'! by means of a rivet or bolt 28. The bar 25 is recessed at 29 to receive a rivet 3% which has been afiixed to the bar 215, as shown in detail in Fig. '7. When the back strap 2t is in operating position, as shown in Fig. 2, it can be easily collapsed by applying pressure downward at the pivot point 2'5, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

A fabric seat cover 3|, preferably of canvas, as shown in Fig. 3, is affixed to the base members I I and I2 and the upright members I! and i8 to form the seat portion 32 and back portion. 33. When the back strap 24 is in operating position it serves to keep the back portion 33 taut. The seat portion 32 is kept taut by merely adjusting the clamping prongs l3 and Hi to the desired width.

To collapse the seat It], it is only necessary to apply downward pressure to the back strap 24 at the point of pivot 21 and the upright members H and 18 can be brought together. The upright members 11 and I8 are then pivoted until. the upright members I! and 18 are brought together with the base members II and I2. Ties 34 and 35, affixed to the seat cover 3|, may then be wrapped around the assembly and tied securely, as shown in Fig. 5. If desired, the seat cover 3| may have a pocket in the seat portion 32 to receive a pad of resilient material such as sponge rubber to form a comfortable seat cushion.

The advantages of my improved stadium seat will be appreciated when it is realized that the seat of my invention is not only a strong, sturdy, comfortable seat when ailiXed, but when 'collapsed, it can be carried by the user in an outside pocket. Furthermore, in collapsed position, it can be inserted into a trunk or in hand luggage and taken alongonwacations efor 11S3i$ "a back rest in canoes and boats.

In the foregoing I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that it is capable of various ,modifications Within the scope of the invention disclosed and. claimed.

I claim:

A stadium seat consisting "of a pair of base members, one end of each base member :being bent downwardly and :inwardly forming a U- shaped ,endqthe opposite endoieachbase member 'Ibeing "bent upwardly, bjack members, means pivot'ally connecting each back member to -one of said upturned .ends and permitting restricted movement of such'backmembers from aposition Number overlying one of said base members to a position in substantial alignment with the respective upwardly bent portions, a single collapsible back strap connecting said back members, said back strap being composed of a pair of metal strips pivotally connected together intermediate said back strap, and a seat cover connecting said base and back members to form a seat and back, said seat cover forming the sole means of connection between "said base amemb'ers.

JOHN F. LE'GOIS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 7 1,196,731 Clark Aug. 29, 1916 1,514,811 Wittman Nov. 1, 1924 $059,493 Schoenhoff Nov. 3, 1936 FOREIGN PATENT'S Number Country Date 406,763 France Feb. 10,1910 

